Bill Alfred Harrison was born on the family farm on November 11, 1943, in the “Scrubtown” area of Lake City, Florida. As he shared his first name with his uncle, his family referred to him as Alfred to avoid confusion.

Bill was the seventh of nine children born to Mrs. Willie Martin Harrison. After the death of her first husband, Samuel Martin, Willie married Bill’s father, Thomas Sparrow Harrison Sr. His dad passed away when Bill was five years old.

Bill grew up working on the farm, where they harvested tobacco and other crops. He joined St. James Baptist Church during his early childhood. He attended New Hope Elementary School and Richardson High School.

After graduating in the class of 1961, Bill relocated to St. Augustine, Florida, where he worked in Food Services at the Florida School of the Deaf and Blind. He was the roommate of one of his co-workers, Joe Logan Sr., who would one day become the father-in-law of his daughter, Toni.

It was in St. Augustine that he met the love of his life, Rosetta. After their marriage in 1963, they moved to New York. Once settled, they helped several family members relocate to New York and live with them to seek the American Dream, most notably his brother and lifelong best friend, Vernice. Bill and Rosetta’s union was blessed with five children. Michelle, Toni, Tracie, Tisha, and Trey.

After briefly working in a clerical position at Catholic Manufacturers in Brooklyn, Bill started as a stock clerk at First National City Bank, Travelers Check Division, in 1965. He also had a brief stint as a model, and was featured in the Sears and Roebuck catalog and in a commercial for Mutual of Omaha.

Despite his humble clerical beginnings, Bill enjoyed an award-winning career at the company now known as Citigroup. In 1983, the Travelers Check Division was relocated to Tampa, bringing Bill and Rosetta back to Florida. Through hard work, tenacity and God's favor, he worked his way up to the position of Assistant Vice President. When he retired, Bill was presented with a Rolex watch for his 37 years of dedicated service.

Bill enjoyed cooking, singing at home and during karaoke nights, collecting stamps and coins, fishing, and watching horse racing and CNBC. His children were the joy of his life, and he and Rosetta cherished every moment with their beloved grandchildren, caring for them so they would not have to attend daycare. He was deeply proud of his siblings and all they accomplished after their rural beginnings. Above all, Bill’s heart belonged to Rosetta, who devotedly cared for him with love and grace as his health declined.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Willie; his siblings and their spouses, Julius (Josie), Elizabeth (Asbury), Edna (Leroy), and Pauline (Henry); son, Thomas; son-in-law, Howard, and grandson, Christopher.

He is survived by Rosetta, Michelle, Toni (Joe), Tracie (Chris), Tisha (Kerwin) and Trey; grandchildren, Jordan, David, Chris, Justin, Kelsey, Kionie and Nia; his siblings, Tommy (Betty), Willie Dee (Oliver), Beulah (R.W., deceased) and Vernice (Mary); as well as a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, loved ones and friends.